Chelsea Eyeing Up Young Premier League Goalkeeper as Contract Talks With Thibaut Courtois Stall

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is reportedly no closer to agreeing a contract extension with the Blues. The Belgian shot stopper's contract expires in 2019, and the ongoing saga surrounding his future has attracted other clubs. 

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are both said to be interested in Courtois and may want to take advantage on the current situation he has with Chelsea. 

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The Daily Mail are reporting that Chelsea are already lining up potential replacements for Courtois, should the club fail to commit the goalkeeper to a contract extension at the club.

Chelsea are reportedly renewing their interest in England international and Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland. The Blues monitored a young Butland while he was at Birmingham City in 2013, but no guarantee of first team football put Butland off the move to London and instead signed for Stoke for £3.5m.

Still only 24, Butland is considered one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe. As such, Stoke will feel that a high transfer fee should reflect the budding potential Butland has to be one of Europe's best. The Potters are said to be likely to ask for a fee greater than the £30m paid by Everton for fellow Englishman Jordan Pickford. 

The only marks against Butland's name are the injuries he has picked up so far in his career. A fractured ankle kept him on the sidelines for just over a year in 2016 and he is also currently recovering from fractured finger which will keep him out well into December. 

Despite this, Butland is tipped to be the next number one choice for England, and would be a good option for Chelsea to replace the potentially departing Courtois.